Yahoo Falls Trail

Yahoo Falls Trail is a 4.2 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Whitley City, Kentucky that features a waterfall and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking and trail running and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.

DISTANCE

4.2 miles

ELEVATION GAIN

646 feet

ROUTE TYPE

Out & Back

dogs on leash

hiking

trail running

cave

forest

river

views

waterfall

wildlife

blowdown

muddy

rocky

Time this hike just right and you can upgrade the rating to a five star hike. Most of the rating hinges on the flow of Yahoo Creek going over the falls. During droughts, it drys to a trickle. After periods of heavy rain, this waterfall is impressive. Another time to visit is during the a lengthy period of freezing weather. After several days of subfreezing weather, a large cone of ice develops in the plunge pool, below the falls.

Combine this hike with Yahoo Arch, a very underrated arch that is part of a larger system of rock shelters. Unlike Twin Arches, this arch has the appearance of a cave or a former rock shelter that has seen its ceiling collapse after years of erosion.

One word of caution-the trail system at yahoo falls is somewhat confusing. There are several trails that form a ring around Yahoo falls. The park has improved signage at important intersections. Be aware of straying off on unofficial trails. This is high cliff country and not paying attention could cost you big time. Also, be on the lookout for black bears during the warm months. Yahoo falls is also a picnic area, and that tends to draw the bears in looking for a quick meal or handout. Bear sightings are not uncommon during the summer here.

Great trail....easy to follow with a lot of places to stop and gawk at the rocks. Make sure you take the extra time to see Maker Arch. Explore the caves, and take some time at the falls. They are peaceful and inspire one to relax

Get there at sunrise and you will probably be the only one(s) there. Great trails, hard to get lost and you can make it as long or as short as you want, Fall colors were incredible, waterfall is amazing! A+ trail.

Enjoyed that the way AllTrails had us come in not in the main parking lot. We hiked past the Arches, to the Falls and then back, without ever going to the main parking lot. However from the trailhead to the Arches the trail is has lots of low brush that rub on your legs due to low use.

Near the falls is fairly heavily trafficked because it is so close to the parking. The falls is nice even though when I went the water was low. But if you take the time to go to the arch you see a lot less people. The arch with the massive cliff next to it is just as impressive, if not more so, than the falls.

The easiest option is to take the stairs down, walk through the rock shelter behind the waterfall, then take the switchbacks up to walk over the waterfall. The stairs are no joke - I wouldn't want to take them up.

At the bottom of the steps you can explore the stream and walk along the Sheltowee Trace trail for a bit, too.

It's a humble stream, but if it's rained recently the waterfall is an impressive sight. The rock shelters are also really neat.

After hiking to the top of the falls, it's worth the extra couple miles to check out Yahoo Arch and another rock shelter nearby before heading back to the parking lot.

Trail is not crowded - we saw 3 other groups in 2 hours over Memorial Day weekend. We also saw a black bear!

Second time in 4 days we did this trail. Went Tuesday with the oldest daughter that came in from Texas and then went with the youngest daughter attending WKU on Saturday. Both days were beautiful and we completely enjoyed the trail. The payoffs at the Yahoo Arch and Yahoo Falls are really good. Youngest daughter wore a “Fitbit” that measures steps taken, trail distance, and evolution change, etc. The trail distance going out the arch and back, down to the falls, and up the “stairs of death”, is 4.1 miles. The total number of steps/stairs from the bottom of the pool below the falls back to the top is 207!